One Bus Ride

There she found herself, just like any other work day, riding the bus home.

It was packed as always.

She found herself lucky enough to have gotten her favorite seat, in the back corner where she could put her feet up on the bar holding up the side seats.

She usually spent her time daydreaming as she would stare out the window and listen to her music, but sometimes she enjoyed people watching and would study the other passengers on the bus. She liked to guess who they were and what kind of lives they had, it kept her mind occupied for the duration of the ride.

Deciding she was in a people watching mood, she turned her attention from the window and into the bus.

Shockingly she automatically met eyes with someone already looking at her from across the bus. It was a guy, short brown hair with beautiful brown eyes, and a gorgeous big smile to match. He was cute enough that she immediately looked away trying not to blush.

It was like a magnet was pulling her to glance his way again because she couldn't help but take another peak. Was he still looking at her? She wondered. She kept her head tilted down while slowly raising her eyes up to the man.

There he sat, still watching her with that grin that would melt any girls heart. She smiled back, and this time he looked down for a moment. Oh my, was he actually blushing too?

She could feel the butterflies swelling in her stomach, and a faint lightheadedness that made her feel as if she was floating.

They locked eyes once again, and this time neither looked away.

She decided to be bold and make the first move. So she lifted her hand from her lap and gave him a short wave as to say her first "Hello".

His grin grew and he also waved. She couldn't understand what it was about him that made looking his way so very irresistible, but she was helpless, like a moth to a flame.

He then pointed out at the Sun and gave a slight nod as if to say "Nice weather today." She nodded back in agreement.

He sat at the front of the bus, right behind the driver. She wished he was closer. She told herself that if a space near him opened up she would dare to move to sit closer to him.

For now, they just continued to pass glances at one another.

There was an old man snoring between them, the cute guy playfully started to pretend to snore as well, elliciting an amused giggle.

A couple stops down the road the woman sitting next to her ended up getting off. Without a second thought, her hand gestured to the open seat, beckoning her new found friend.

He gladly obliged.

There they were, sitting side by side. It seemed to make both of them somehow smile even bigger.

Neither of them said a word though, almost as if they weren't able to work up the courage.

The bus continued on.

As they continued down the road, the man pulled a couple caramels out of his bag and extended his palm out to her. She grabbed one and politely smiled. Hearing the wrapper crunching as she opened it.

They put the caramels in their mouth, and at the same time, as if that had signified some kind of mutual bonding, they both let their legs fall apart just far enough that they were now slightly touching.

She felt a rush of excitement flow through her, she hadn't felt a feeling like this since what seemed like her teenage years.

She noticed the smell of him too, A ceder wood and musk kind of scent. She quietly took a big whiff in, it was heavenly.

Just as she was working up the strength to say something, she went to twist sideways in her seat to face him. The bus driver was not paying attention to the red light coming up until the last moment, slamming on the breaks she almost flew out of her seat. But the man had quick reflexes, and quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

They both looked at eachother and started laughing uncontrolably.

And the bus continued on.

She hadn't found the courage to speak up yet, so she made herself a deal. She was two stops away from her destination, if he got off on the same stop as she did, then she would finally speak to him, because that would have to be fate right? She felt comfortable this way, cause what were the odds of him getting off at the same place? She did not know if she'd have the nerve. Still though, she kind of regretted being a coward in that moment.

As they were nearing the next stop, he started gathering his things.

"Shit." She thought.

As he stood up, he turned and looked at her with an almost upset face, as though he too regretted not saying something.

So before the bus came to a complete stop, he raised one of his fingers, motioning her to hold on. He grabbed his wallet and pulled out a card, then he reached for her hand, gently opening her palm.

There he placed another caramel, and one of his business cards, name and number now before her eyes. She looked up at him surprised, he gave her hand a little squeeze and winked as he walked toward the front of the bus and out onto the street.

They couldn't help but get one last smiling glance at eachother as the bus drove away.

Little did she know, that there in her hands was the name of the man she would come to spend the next many years of her life with.